Government Skills
Last updated: 20 February, 2009
20 February 2009
Apprenticeship Week 2009 is an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the essential role that apprenticeships play in today's business world, ensuring that the workforce has the skills it needs in order to remain competitive, even in difficult economic circumstances.
Taking place across England from Monday 23 February to Friday 27 February, the second annual Apprenticeship Week is the chance for employers to share the many benefits that apprenticeships are delivering on a daily basis for their businesses and demonstrate that apprentices 'make things happen'.
Apprenticeships span the breadth of the economy – from accountancy and engineering, to construction, creative industries and the civil service.
Government Skills is currently promoting a pathfinder covering apprenticeships in central government, building on the pockets of practice that already exist. Government Skills is also working with departments to deliver the pathfinder as part of the drive to increase apprenticeships in the public sector. Most apprentices are in customer service, business and administration and management.
However, not all apprenticeships are based in an office. Historic Scotland has set up an apprentice scheme for stonemasons, plumbers and joiners to train apprentices to upkeep castles and stately homes.